China or melamine?

Delta18 · Guru

China or melamine?

RosieW · Guru

As we get into the nitty gritty of packing up the remnants ready for a full-time life on the road, we are debating whether we should keep our china plates, bowls etc, or shift to melamine? I like the idea of melamine because it packs down small, but was wondering what experienced travellers have found to be best?

If you have melamine, where did you get it? Trying to find a matching set with decent sized plates/bowls is a bit of a challenge at present.

Thanks all :D

Kiwi-as · Guru

We bought a set of melamine plates and bowls etc from a caravan accessories store. The plates are fine but the cups stained so much with tea stains that we also bought 4 china mugs. Also glad wrap doesn't stick to melamine and it is not microwave safe.
Having said this I would buy melamine again as it is light and not likely to break.

pambaz · Senior Member

Melamine always. I do like china mugs though.

copper1 · Guru

We brought corelle from Kmart does the job for us really tough, great for the van.

Oz Gypsy · Veteran Member

Agree Corelle is great. It looks and feels like china but is light, very thin, break resistant. You cannot get cups/mugs in corelle though.

You can often buy Corelle in Woolworths.

shekon · Guru

I bought melamine set for around $36 from camping store for outside. I have half of my china set for inside the van. I really like drinking tea from china and also gives me a feeling of home. I have found that with the anti-slip matting in the bottom of the drawer nothing has moved or chipped. Of course this is only one week into my new life but still like the nice things in life.

Kaid · Guru

corelle for me too

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Corelle for us too...

Happywanderer · The Master

The cheap version of melamine does me, from the cheap shop. Still like China mugs though.

Happy Daze · Senior Member

Another vote for Corelle.

Cheers, Annie

Grams · Guru

I bought a Corelle dinner set, it came with Mugs. It cost a bit, but so worth it. I use them in the house too, as I have grand kids and I don't worry about them getting broken.

I have had Melamine in the past but I hate the taste from it...it's like eating off plastic, even the cups make the tea taste foul.

Grams

brickies · Guru

White Corelle from Big W

nomadic1 · Senior Member

Yup I'm with the rest (which is actually quite unusual) and have white Corelle bought from KMart or BigW or one of those. But I do like real glass wine glasses. I buy them from 2nd hand shops for no more than $1 per glass - that way it doesn't really matter if I break one or two.

Jaytee · Senior Member

Yes we've got the white Corelle too, our 3 sets all came with mugs. We like it because it is so light and always looks fresh and clean.

We just take a four piece setting in the motor home.

Dunmowin · Guru

Corelle for me too. Sort of a cross between melamine and china. As we are on the road permanently, we did not want the melamine feel of camping (we had it previously).we bought our set from a DFO in Brisbane. I suppose it comes down to weather you are on hols or permanently on the road.

Jayco Gypsy · Senior Member

Corelle for me too. Started with Melamine and didn't take long to swap to Correlle. I brought square plates and bowls which fit better in the van cupboards from Kmart.

herbie · Guru

Corelle all the way brought our set about 8 years ago and still look like new,best part they do not hold any staining from food and they are mic safe and dish washer safe..Plus light and easy to carry in the van.

Dunmowin · Guru

Jayco Gypsy wrote:
Corelle for me too. Started with Melamine and didn't take long to swap to Correlle. I brought square plates and bowls which fit better in the van cupboards from Kmart.

Ohh, do yours match ours. We have white, with black swirls,

Cupie · Guru

No contest ...

Corelle for me too.

But I dumped their clunky mugs in favour of some bone china Maxwell & Williams 'Cashmere' from David Jones. (lightweight, thin, not too expensive & reasonably robust .. none broken yet)

We use wine glasses of the shape that they use for tasting in wineries. Can get them at the second hand shops from time to time for around $2 each. OK for red, white, fortified or sparkling wine. Robust too. I thought that I was doing well to pick up a carton of 12 for $10 ... but then I gave up drinking, so they sit unused under the bar at home.

-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 11th of October 2013 11:13:15 AM

BruDi · Senior Member

You can get Corelle mugs. I have four of them.

Di

brickies · Guru

We also have real glass wine glasses which we carry in stubies holders never had a breakage

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Corelle is the go! Melamine feels "picnicky" if you know what I mean!

RosieW · Guru

Ok thanks guys - off to hunt down Corelle now :D

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Corelle here too, but china coffee cups and real wine glasses.

ozjohn · Guru

Another vote for Corelle.
Ozjohn.

Note: Melemine are not microwave safe, our previous ones became frisbies many moons ago.

RosieW · Guru

Cupie wrote:
No contest ...
Corelle for me too.
But I dumped their clunky mugs in favour of some bone china Maxwell & Williams 'Cashmere' from David Jones.
We use wine glasses of the shape that they use for tasting in wineries. Can get them at the second hand shops from time to time for around $2 each. OK for red, white, fortified or sparkling wine. Robust too. I thought that I was doing well to pick up a carton of 12 for $10 ... but then I gave up drinking, so they sit unused under the bar at home.

Yeah, I don't drink anymore - although there is a rather good de-alcoholised shiraz......... Troy is pretty much a non-drinker too, so glasses aren't an issue.

If I ever get the urge to have another of the above mentioned Shiraz, I have a couple of second hand wine glasses here somewhere. And if ever anyone makes a dealcoholised pinot noir, I will invest in a really good wine glass, and enjoy a 'drink' or 3.....

jetj · Guru

My vote is for stainless steel insulated mugs, wine glasses and plates. Wouldn't use anything else on the road.

chaslib · Senior Member

Whilst I am sure the controversy and fallout over the baby formula and melamine issues out of China some years back have been resolved and food safety safeguards and standards are in place i would still be wary about any possible problems in the future that may affect melamine dinnerware.

Yes, it is a different manufacturing process and uses different components and probably would not affect dinner wear, but who knows? For me it will always be china/crockery or corralle. Also i have only occasionally used metal dinner wear and dont think I would go down this path, but I have no problems with a glass of Chardy out of a pewter wine glass ... Keeps it cold!

oh well, how could it happen again?? Who ever heard of China being a forerunner in the manufacturing arena .... Never happen ...!!! Or could it?

just playing the Devils Advocate.

-- Edited by chaslib on Friday 11th of October 2013 07:47:27 PM

Palebushman · Senior Member

Hi RosieW,

My Queen likes to have her creature comforts too, especially when it comes to her cuppa. Melamine is light and fairly robust but stains easily, we replaced ours with Corelle.

This link will take you to BigW where the set also includes very nice mugs made from the same material as the plates.

http://www.bigw.com.au/home-garden/dining/dinner-sets/bpnBIGW_0000000051217/corelle-pure-white-16-piece-square-dinner-set?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Dinner%20Sets&utm_campaign=Corelle%20%27Pure%20White%27%2016%20Piece%20Square%20Dinner%20Set&CAWELAID=1817671662&gclid=CKjshcDZjboCFc4bpQodwxkAdQ